Visionary hip-hop producer J Dilla never found mainstream success during his brief lifetime. But in the seven years since his death, Dilla — who would have turned 39 today — has come to represent a ...

Today, Feb. 7, the late and great hip-hop maestro James Yancey, aka J Dilla, would have celebrated his 40th birthday. Sadly, the influential producer passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, after a long bout ...

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... When someone dies young, cultural norms tell us to celebrate the life that was, rather than mourn the death that is all too present. It can sometimes feel ...

J Dilla wasn't just your favorite producer's favorite producer, he was also your favorite rapper's favorite producer — and these beats are a testament to that. Drums, percussion, bass, samples, synths ...

The first time you hear an instrumental track produced by the late beatmaker J Dilla, it will likely sound a little … wrong. Drunken bass drums. Swaying snares. Off-kilter cymbal crashes. Vocal ...